The Kingdom And The Mystery

Notes:

Matthew 2:1-6 The knowledge regarding the Kingdom was so common
that the evil King Herod knew that the King and Messiah (Christ) were one
and the same.

Luke 23:37-43 The criminal hanging on the cross near him understood
the Kingdom. Today, because of the infiltration and permeation of false
doctrine; many know nothing about the King or the Kingdom. Due to the
unknowing acceptance of Platonic doctrine regarding the immortality of
the soul, most believe death is the beginning of eternal life in heaven.

Acts 1:6 On the day of his ascension, the question on their mind was,
"Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"

Luke 18:31-34 They did not understand the sacrificial Messiah. Even his
most educated disciples did not comprehend that he had to suffer and die,
nor did they grasp what it would accomplish.

All the prophets wrote about the reign of the King and the Kingdom, so
there are many verses regarding the subject. Yet, there are only a few
vague Scriptures regarding the suffering of the Messiah (Psalms 2:1 and 2;
22:1-18; 69:1-ff; Micah 5:1; Isaiah 53:1-ff; Zechariah 13:7). The
understanding of these verses was veiled. Central to Israel's belief system
was the sacrifice of innocent animals for the sins of the people, but no one
understood that these sacrifices were connected to the Messiah and served
as a type for what he would do.

Isaiah 53:1 "Every" Christian knows today that this chapter is referring
to Jesus Christ because the New Testament tells us so.

1 Peter 2:22-24 Allusion to Isaiah 53; see also Matthew 8:17

1 Peter 1:10-12 Neither the prophets nor the angels could grasp what
they were reading because God kept it secret.

Revelation 9:1-ff These prophesies are going to come to pass but are
now an enigma to us.

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 A mystery does not mean the information is not
provided rather that the understanding of the information is hidden.

Ephesians 3:1-9 The revelation regarding the mystery was revealed to
the Apostle Paul.

Romans 16:25-27 Paul reveals the mystery by using the words of the
prophets. He explains plainly that which was veiled previously.